Meredith Lynn Lawrence v. Kentucky Bar Association , 533 S.W.3d 686 ( 2017 )


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    MEREDITH LYNN LAWRENCE                                                     MOVANT
    KBA MEMBER NO·. 40365
    v.                             IN SUPREME COURT
    KENTUCKY BAR ASSOCIATION                                             RESPONDENT
    OPINION AND.ORDER
    Pursuant to Supreme Court Rule (SCR) 3.480(2), Movant, Meredith Lynn
    Lawrence, moves this Court to impose a five-year suspension from the practice
    of law for his admitted violati~ns of SCR 3. l30(8.~)(b), to b~ applied
    retroactively to July 6, 2012, the date of his temporary suspension. The
    K~~tucky   Bar Association (KBA) has no objection to the proposed .discipline.
    Finding this agreed upon   discipli~ary   sanction to .be app;ropriate under
    the facts of this case, we grant Movant's motion. Movant's KBA member
    number is 40365 and his bar roster address is 107 E. High Street, P.O. Box
    1330, :Warsaw,   ~entucky   41095.
    KHA FILE 16392
    A formal complaint was filed against Movant on December 6, 2011, after
    he was indicted in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District. of Kentucky for
    tax fraud for years 2004, 2005,. and 2006.    ~suant    to SCR 3.166, Movant
    was temporarily suspended from the practice oflaw·on July 6, 2012, after he
    was convicted of those charges .. He was sentenced to 27 months but served 24
    due to   go~d   behavior and made full restitution in the amount of $128,000.00.
    Although   M~vant    still has some appellate relief pending, he has determined his
    success is unlikely.
    . As previously noted,. the KBA has no objection to the proposed discipline,
    which wa~ negotiated pursuant to SCR 3.480(2). In support,·the KBA'cites
    several cases in which a sim~lar sanc~on was imposed on attorneys who were.
    either <:onvicted or pied guilty to tax ·fraud. · ~.g., Sivasubramaniain v. Kentucky
    Bar Association, 
    487 S.W.3d 891
    (Ky. 2016); and McEnroe v. Kentucky Bar
    Association, 
    408 S.W.3d 750
    (Ky. 2013). In ~oth of those cases, the amount of
    restitution ordered was significantly in excess of the $128;000.00 that has
    been paid by Movant.
    Accordingly, it is hereby ORDERED that:
    1) Movant~ Meredith Lynn Lawrence, KBA Member No. 40365, is
    ·suspended from the practice of law in the Commonwealth of Kentucky for five
    ye0!S to be applied retroactively to July 6, 2012'; effective upon the date of
    entry of this order~ pending further orders of this Court;
    2) Movant shall timely satisfy_ all continuing legal education
    requ~ements;
    3) Movant shall tiniely pay his KBA member dues; and
    2
    4) Pursuant to SCR 3.450,-Movant is directed to pay all costs associated
    with these· disciplinary proceedings.
    All sitting. All concur. .
    ENTERED: December 14, 2017.
    c
    3
    

Document Info

Docket Number: 2017 SC 000519

Citation Numbers: 533 S.W.3d 686

Filed Date: 12/12/2017

Precedential Status: Precedential

Modified Date: 1/12/2023